Coil-handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for transferring product coils from a coil-forming station to a transport means, for example a hook conveyor. The apparatus includes a carriage movable along a track extending between a first position adjacent to the coil-forming station and a second position underlying the path travelled by the hook conveyor. A cradle is carried by the carriage. A coil is transferred from the coil-forming station into the cradle and the carriage is then traversed to the second position. While the carriage is moving away from the coil-forming station, the cradle is tilted to position the coil for axial insertion over an awaiting hook on the hook conveyor. Thereafter, the track is lowered to deposit the coil on the hook. The carriage and cradle are then returned to their original positions and the coil is carried away by the hook conveyor.

United States Patent 4 [72] Inventor Donald Sieurin Northbono, Mass.

[21 I Appl. No. 882,922

{22] Filed Dec. 8, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 173] Assig'utec Morgan Construction Company Worcester, Mm.

[54] COIL-HANDLING APPARATUS 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52 11.5.01 214/1 Q, 214/130 C, 2l4/D1G. 3, 2422/79 51 1 m. (*1 865; 7/00 150] fleldotseardi 198/33 R, 27, 178; 242/79; 214/1 R, 1, DIG. 6, DIG. 3, 130, 130 A, 130 C [56] Relerenccs Cited UNTlED STATES PATENTS 2,256,975 9/1941 Eddy etal 214/1 R UX 2,558,503 6/1951 Young 214/D1G. 6 2,711,832 6/1955 Cigliano 214/130 (C)X K K E r 19 1 44 ""BGc so .3811

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,093,326 11/1954 France Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner AnomeyChittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier ABSTRACT: An apparatus for transferring product coils from a coil-forming station to a transport means, for example a hook conveyor. The apparatus includes a carriage movable along a track extending between a first position adjacent to the coil-forming station and a second position underlying the path travelled by the hook conveyor. A cradle is carried by the carriage. A coil is transferred from the coil-forming station into the cradle and the carriage is then traversed to the second position. While the carriage is moving away from the coilforming station, the cradle is tilted to position the coil for axial insertion over an awaiting hook on the hook conveyor. Thereafter, the track is lowered to deposit the coil on the hook. The carriage and cradle are then returned to their original positions and the coil is carried away by the hook conveyor.

PATENTEUAUGIOIQY: $3,598,251

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COIL-HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to material-handling apparatus and more particularly to an improved means for trans ferring product coils from a coil-forming station to an adjacent carrier means.

The invention will hereinafter be described in connection with the handling of one of the end products of a rolling mill, namely, rod coils. In particular, the embodiment to be hereinafter described is designed to transfer coils from a coilforming station to a hook conveyor. It will, however, be understood that this use is employed herein for illustrative purposes only and is not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the invention.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for rapidly and efficiently transferring a coiled product from a coil-forming station to a carrier means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for tilting or downending the coil to a horizontal attitude while the coil is being transferred from the coil-forming station to the carrier means.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means for depositing the downended coil on a horizontally disposed coil-supporting member of a carrier means, for example, the hook of a hook conveyor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for axially containing the coil during its transfer and downendmg.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention to be presently described in greater detail, the foregoing objectives are accomplished by an apparatus which includes a cradle mounted on a carriage. The carriage is movable along a track extending from a coil-forming station to a hook carrier. The cradle is rotatable between a vertical coil-receiving position and a horizontal coil transfer position. The track is pivotally mounted at the coil-forming station, thereby permitting the other end of the track adjacent the hook carrier to be raised and lowered. In operation, a coil is transferred laterally from the coil-forming station into the cradle while the latter is in the coil-receiving position. Thereafter, while the carriage is moving along the track away from the coil-forming station, the cradle is tilted to downend the coil to a horizontal attitude axially aligned with an awaiting hook on the hook carrier. As the carriage arrives at the end of the track, the coil is axially inserted over the hook. The track is then lowered to deposit the coil on the hook. Once this has been accomplished, the carriage and its cradle are returned to the coil-forming station for receipt of the next coil, and the coil on the hook carrier is carried away. During downending and transfer, the coil is held on the cradle and axially contained by pivotal'finger members.

The invention offers a number of advantages not heretofore present in other coil-handling systems. For example, the coils are axially and radially contained throughout the downending and transfer cycle, thereby preventing any distortion which might otherwise result. In addition, following delivery of the coils from the coil-forming station into the cradle, the coils are downended, transferred and deposited on the hook conveyor without sliding. This substantially minimizes the possibility of marking, scratching or otherwise marring the coiled product.

The foregoing objectives as well as the operation of the apparatus and the advantages to be derived therefrom will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention, with all components in the coil-receiving position" and with portions of the coilforming station partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. I; and,

FIGS. 36 are schematic illustrations depicting the operational sequence of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein are best shown both general and specific features of one embodiment of the instant invention, there is shown a coil-forming station generally indicated at 10 spaced laterally from a conventional hook carrier system having a plurality of hooks, one of which is partially depicted at 12. Each hook has a horizontally extending coil supporting section 12a. The coil transfer apparatus which comprises the essence of the present invention is located between coil-forming station 10 and the hook carrier system and is generally indicated at 14.

The coil-forming station 10 is comprised basically of a chamber, the wall of which is defined by a plurality of spaced vertical rods 16. The rods extend upwardly from a horizontally disposed floor or table 18. The upper ends of the rods are connected to and braced by a top plate 19. Product, for example rod rings 20, is deposited in the chamber to accumulate in coil form as at C on table 18. i

A carriage transfer assembly generally indicated at 28 is located beneath the level of the chamber floor l8. Carriage assembly 28 is provided with wheels 30 which run along horizontal rails 32, the latter being mounted on a carrier beam 34 supported at either end by vertical members 360 and 36b. Another set of vertical members 360 cooperates with members 36a to support the coil-forming chamber. Carriage as sembly 28 includes depending spaced parallel members 38a and 38b interconnected adjacent their upper ends by cross braces 40a and 40b and at their lower ends by a base member 42. The vertical members 380 and 38b support tracks 44 along which run the guide wheels 46 of a mandrel member 48. A double-acting cylinder 50 is mounted at 52 on base member 42 and is connected at its upper end to the mandrel 48. Cylinder 50 operates to vertically adjust mandrel 48 between a raised operative position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) extending through a slot 54 in the chamber floor 18, and a lowered position beneath the chamber floor, as shown in FIG. 5. The carriage assembly 28 is moved along guide rails 32 by means of another double acting cylinder 56.

It will be understood that during the coil-forming operation, a series of product rings 20 will descend in a somewhat helical configuration to accumulate in coil form on the chamber floor 18. The raised mandrel 48 will cooperate with the rods 16 deforming the chamber wall to .insure that the coil being formed takes on the desired cylindrical shape.

The coil transfer apparatus 14 includes a tilting track assembly which is pivotally connected at one end as at 62 adjacent to the coil-forming station 10, the other end of the track being supported by an elevating mechanism generally indicated at 64. The elevating mechanism is powered by a double-acting cylinder 66 and includes a linkage arrangement 68 pivotally connected to the track assembly at 70. The elevating mechanism pivotally adjusts the track assembly 60 about point 62 between raised and lowered positions as shown respectively by the solid and dotted lines in FIG. 1.

Another carriage assembly 72 is mounted for movement along the length of track 60 on wheels 74, the latter being arranged to engage rails 76. The means for driving the carriage assembly 72 includes a reversible motor 78 mounted on a plate 80 attached to the underside of the track 60. Motor 78 powers a gear reducer 82 which is provided with a drive pinion 84, the latter being in meshed relationship with a rack 86 centrally located on the underside of the carriage assembly 72. With this arrangement, it will be seen that the carriage assembly 72 may be moved in opposite directions along track 60 by energizing motor 78 to cause drive pinion 84 to rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

A cradle generally indicated at 88 is mounted on carriage assembly 72 for pivotal movement about an axis 90 under the influence of a rotary hydraulic motor 91. Operation of motor 91 causes the cradle to rotate between an upright coil-receiving position and a downended position, as indicated by the solid and dotted lines respectively in FIG. 1. Cradle 88 is comprised basically of a somewhat semicylindrical wall 92 having a baseplate 94 at its lowermost end. For reasons which will hereinafter be stated, the angle included between baseplate 94 and the axis of wall section 92 is preferably somewhat less than 90. As is best shown in FIG. 2, baseplate 94 is provided with a centrally located slot 96 which in effect provides a continuation of the slot 54 in the floor 18 of the coil-forming chamber when the cradle is in the coil-receiving position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cradle 88 is further provided along the side edges of wall section 92 with vertically aligned sets of coil-retaining finger members indicated typically by the reference numerals 98a and 98b. Each set of finger members is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 100. The finger members are individually urged to the closed position shown at 98a and 98b in FIGS. 2 and 3A by means of coiled spring 102. The fingers are collectively pivoted to the open position indicated at 98a and 98b by means of cylinders 104, the latter being connected to vertical members 106 which are in turn connected at their upper and lower ends as at 108 to the shafts 100.

The operation of the apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 will now be reviewed with-additional reference to the schematic illustrations contained in FIGS. 36.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus is in the coilreceiving position. At this stage, the carriage assembly 72 is adjacent the coil-forming station and the cradle 88 is substantially vertically disposed with its baseplate 94 providing a slightly downwardly inclined continuation of the coil-collecting table 18 at the base of the coil-forming chamber. Elevating mechanism 64 has been actuated to place the tilting track 60 in a substantially horizontal position and an empty hook 12 of the hook carrier has been moved into position. The mandrel member 48 is in a raised operative position cooperating with the rods 16 defining the wall of the coil-forming chamber to accumulate the descending helical formation of rod rings into an upstanding substantially cylindrical coil C. Upon completion of the coil, further descent of rod rings into the chamber is interrupted by known means, such as for example a horizontally movable separator plate (not shown), and steps are taken to transfer the completed coil from the coil-forming apparatus 10 to the hook 12 of the hook conveyor.

To this end, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, a pair of doors 110 are opened by actuating cylinders 112. The doors 110 are supported during opening and closing by means of caster assemblies 114 which run along the surface of the coil-collecting table 18. As soon as the doors 110 are opened, cylinder 56 is actuated to traverse carriage assembly 28 along guide rails 32 to the position shown in FIG. 3. When the carriage assembly 28 is thus moved, the mandrel member 48 remains in its raised position extending axially through the coil C. Consequently, the coil is also slid laterally along coil-collecting table 18 onto the baseplate 94 of the cradle 88.

Due to the slight downward inclination of baseplate 94, the coil C is caused to lean against the semicylindrical cradle wall 92, thus obviating the possibility of the coil toppling in the opposite direction once the mandrel member 48 has been withdrawn. At this point, and with further reference to FIG. 3A, it will be seen that the coil-retaining fingers 98a and 98h are adjusted to the closed position. This exerts a lateral holding action which provides further insurance against the possibility ofthe coil inadvertently being dislodged from the cradle. It will also be noted that the finger members located at levels above the top of the coil C are pivoted inwardly to closed positions overlying the top of the coil. This provides the further advantage of cooperating with the carriage baseplate 94 to axially contain the coil.

With the coil thus securely held on the cradle 88, the mandrel member 48 is withdrawn to a level beneath that of the coil-collecting table 18. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the cradle assembly 88 is tilted or downended" about axis 90, thus causing the coil C to assume a substantially horizontal attitude aligned axially with the horizontally disposed coil supporting section 12a of the carrier hook 12.

With further reference to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the carriage assembly 72 is next moved along track assembly 60 to a position underlying hook 12. As previously indicated, thisis accomplished by simply energizing reversible motor 78. As the carriage assembly 72 moves along track 60, the coil C is gradually inserted over the horizontally disposed coil-supporting section 12a of the hook. The carriage assembly 72 is advanced until such time as the center of gravity of coil C is aligned with the center of the horizontal member 12a. At this point, further advancement of the carriage assembly 72 is halted and the coil is thus axially inserted over the hook with its inner radius spaced radially as at 73 from the horizontally disposed member 12a.

While carriage assembly 72 is in motion towards hook 12, the other carriage assembly 28 is being returned to a position underlying coil-collecting table 18. At the same time, the door members are returned to the closed position in preparation for resumption of the next coil-forming operation.

With the coil positioned as shown in FIG. 5, it will be seen that the horizontal coil-supporting section of hook 12 extends through the slot 96 in baseplate 94. At this point the finger members 98a and 98b are pivoted to the open position to facilitate relative movement between the cradle 88 and coil C, and the elevating mechanism 64 is actuated to pivotally lower track assembly 60 to the position shown in FIG. 6, thereby resulting in the coil C being deposited on hook 12. While this last step is taking place, the mandrel member 48 is again raised to its operative position and the formation of the next coil is commenced at the coil-forming station 10.

Following deposit of coil C on hook 12, the carriage assembly 72 is returned to its original position adjacent coilforming station 10. The hook carrier is then actuated to carry coil C to another location for subsequent processing, and the remaining components of the apparatus are readjusted to their coil-receiving positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in preparation for transfer of the next coil which is now in the process of being formed at coil-forming station 10.

A number of advantages are made possible by the present invention. For example, it should be noted that the coil is transferred from the coil-forming station 10 to the hook [2 with a minimum of sliding contact between the coil surfaces and the transfer apparatus. Some sliding takes place as the coil is laterally transferred from the coil-collecting table 18 onto the inclined baseplate 94 of the cradle 88. However, both of these surfaces are smooth and relatively broad, thus minimizing the possibility of scratching or otherwise marring the coiled product at the bottom of the coil. If desired, both the coil-collecting table 18 and the baseplate 94 might be made up of closely spaced rollers in order to further minimize sliding contact. Once on cradle 88, the coil is thereafter transferred and lowered onto the hook without any further sliding, thus preserving and safeguarding the surfaces of the product along the sides and interior of the coil.

Of additional importance is the use of pivotal finger members 98a and 98b which hold and axially contain the coil while the latter is on cradle 88.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. Apparatus for transferring a cylindrical product coil from a vertical position at a coil-forming station to a position axially supported on the horizontal arm of a carrier apparatus, said means comprising: transport means movable between a first location adjacent said coil-forming station and a second location underlying the said am; transfer means for shifting a vertical coil from said coil torming station onto said transport means when the latter is at said first location; drive means for moving said transport means to said second location; coil-tilt ing means on said transport means, said tilting means being operative to tilt said coil to a horizontal position prior to the arrival of said transport means at said second location, whereupon when said transport means arrives at said second location, the coil is axially inserted over said arm with the inner wall of the coil being radially spaced from said arm; and

elevational means for lowering said transport means to deposit the coil on said arm, thereby permitting the coil to be carried away by the carrier apparatus while thecomponents of said apparatus are repositioned to receive the next coil from the coil-forming station.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transport means is comprised of a carriage assembly movably mounted on a track, the said track extending between said first and second locations.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said transport means is further provided with a coil-supporting cradle into which coils are transferred from the coil-forming station by said transfer means, the said cradle having a bottom member with a curved generally semicylindrical wall member extending vertically from one edge thereof.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the angle defined by the axis of said semicylindrical wall member and said bottom member is less than 90.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by said cradle being pivotally mounted on said carriage assembly for movement about an axis adjacent to the juncture of said bottom plate member and said wall member and means for pivoting said cradle between a coil receiving position wherein the wall member is generally vertically disposed in relation to said track, and a coil delivery position wherein the wall member is horizontally disposed in relation to said track.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said transfer means is comprised of a mandrel member around which a coil is formed on a platform at said coil-forming station, the bottom member of said cradle assembly being located adjacent to and at approximately the same level as said platform when said cradle is in a coil-receiving attitude at said first location, said platform and said bottom member being further provided with aligned communicating slots, means for moving said mandrel laterally along said aligned slots from said coil-forming station to said first location to thereby laterally shift a coil from said coil-forming station into said cradle, and means for retracting said mandrel beneath the said level, thereby permitting further movement of the coil on said cradle while the mandrel is returned to the coil forming station.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the concave surface of said wall member faces the coil-forming station when said cradle is in the coil-receiving position, and wherein said bottom member is disposed at an angle relative to said wall member so as to cause a coil supported on said bottom member to lean against said wall member.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by means carried by said wall member for gripping the sides of a coil supported on said bottom member.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by said means for gripping the sides of a coil supported on said bottom member being comprised of a plurality of vertically aligned pivotal finger members positioned along the side edges of said wall member, operating means for collectively rotating said finger members between open coil-receiving positions and closed coil-gripping positions, and spring means for individually urging said finger members into engagement with the sides of said coil when said operating means positions the finger members in the coil-gripping position, the finger members above the top of the coil being urged by said spring means to positions overlying the top of the coil, thus cooperating with said bottom member to axially contain the coil when the eradle is subsequently pivoted to a horizontally disposed attitude.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by one end of said track being pivotally mounted to a stationary support structure at said first location, the said elevational means being operatively connected to the other end of said track at said second location.

11. Apparatus for transferring a coil from a coil-forming station to a hook on a hook carrier, said apparatus comprising: transport means movable between a first location adjacent to said coil-forming station and a second location underlying the said hook; cradle means on said transport means, said cradle being ad ustably mounted for movement between a generally vertical coil-receiving position and a generally horizontal coil delivery position; transfer means at said coil-forming station for transferring a coil into said cradle means when the latter is in the coil-receiving position and the transport means is at said first location; a first drive means for moving said transport means to said second location; a second drive means for adjusting said cradle means to said coil delivery position before said transport means arrives at said second location, whereupon when said transport means is at said second location with said cradle means in said coil delivery position, the coil in said cradle means will be axially inserted over said hook with the interior surface of said coil being spaced radially from said hook; and, elevational means for lowering said transport means to thereby transfer the coil from said cradle means onto said hook, whereupon reverse operation of said first and second drive means and said elevational means will return said transport means to said first location and said cradle means to said coil-receiving position, thereby freeing the coil on said hook for further movement away from the apparatus. 

1. Apparatus for transferring a cylindrical product coil from a vertical position at a coil-forming station to a position axially supported on the horizontal arm of a carrier apparatus, said means comprising: transport means movable between a first location adjacent said coil-forming station and a second location underlying the said arm; transfer means for shifting a vertical coil from said coil-forming station onto said transport means when the latter is at said first location; drive means for moving said transport means to said second location; coil-tilting means on said transport means, said tilting means being operative to tilt said coil to a horizontal position prior to the arrival of said transport means at said second location, whereupon when said transport means arrives at said second location, the coil is axially inserted over said arm with the inner wall of the coil being radially spaced from said arm; and elevational means for lowering said transport means to deposit the coil on said arm, thereby permitting the coil to be carried away by the carrier apparatus while the components of said apparatus are repositioned to receive the next coil from the coil-forming station.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transport means is comprised of a carriage assembly movably mounted on a track, the said track extending between said first and second locations.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said transport means is further provided with a coil-supporting cradle into which coils are transferred from the coil-forming station by said transfer means, the said cradle having a bottom member with a curved generally semicylindrical wall member extending vertically from one edge thereof.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the angle defined by the axis of said semicylindrical wall member and said bottom member is less than 90*.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by said cradle being pivotally mounted on said carriage assembly for movement about an axis adjacent to the juncture of said bottom plate member and said wall member and means for pivoting said cradle between a coil receiving position wherein the wall member is generally vertically disposed in relation to said track, and a coil deliverY position wherein the wall member is horizontally disposed in relation to said track.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said transfer means is comprised of a mandrel member around which a coil is formed on a platform at said coil-forming station, the bottom member of said cradle assembly being located adjacent to and at approximately the same level as said platform when said cradle is in a coil-receiving attitude at said first location, said platform and said bottom member being further provided with aligned communicating slots, means for moving said mandrel laterally along said aligned slots from said coil-forming station to said first location to thereby laterally shift a coil from said coil-forming station into said cradle, and means for retracting said mandrel beneath the said level, thereby permitting further movement of the coil on said cradle while the mandrel is returned to the coil forming station.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the concave surface of said wall member faces the coil-forming station when said cradle is in the coil-receiving position, and wherein said bottom member is disposed at an angle relative to said wall member so as to cause a coil supported on said bottom member to lean against said wall member.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by means carried by said wall member for gripping the sides of a coil supported on said bottom member.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by said means for gripping the sides of a coil supported on said bottom member being comprised of a plurality of vertically aligned pivotal finger members positioned along the side edges of said wall member, operating means for collectively rotating said finger members between open coil-receiving positions and closed coil-gripping positions, and spring means for individually urging said finger members into engagement with the sides of said coil when said operating means positions the finger members in the coil-gripping position, the finger members above the top of the coil being urged by said spring means to positions overlying the top of the coil, thus cooperating with said bottom member to axially contain the coil when the cradle is subsequently pivoted to a horizontally disposed attitude.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by one end of said track being pivotally mounted to a stationary support structure at said first location, the said elevational means being operatively connected to the other end of said track at said second location.
 11. Apparatus for transferring a coil from a coil-forming station to a hook on a hook carrier, said apparatus comprising: transport means movable between a first location adjacent to said coil-forming station and a second location underlying the said hook; cradle means on said transport means, said cradle being adjustably mounted for movement between a generally vertical coil-receiving position and a generally horizontal coil delivery position; transfer means at said coil-forming station for transferring a coil into said cradle means when the latter is in the coil-receiving position and the transport means is at said first location; a first drive means for moving said transport means to said second location; a second drive means for adjusting said cradle means to said coil delivery position before said transport means arrives at said second location, whereupon when said transport means is at said second location with said cradle means in said coil delivery position, the coil in said cradle means will be axially inserted over said hook with the interior surface of said coil being spaced radially from said hook; and, elevational means for lowering said transport means to thereby transfer the coil from said cradle means onto said hook, whereupon reverse operation of said first and second drive means and said elevational means will return said transport means to said first location and said cradle means to said coil-receiving Position, thereby freeing the coil on said hook for further movement away from the apparatus. 